Finally, Napoli deal is done

BOSTON — An even 50 days after the Red Sox first brokered an agreement with Mike Napoli, the team officially has its first baseman.The Red Sox announced their reconfigured one-year deal worth as much as...

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By
TIM BRITTON
Posted Jan. 22, 2013 @ 7:04 pm

BOSTON — An even 50 days after the Red Sox first brokered an agreement with Mike Napoli, the team officially has its first baseman.

The Red Sox announced their reconfigured one-year deal worth as much as $13 million with Napoli on Tuesday. Napoli and the Sox initially agreed on a three-year, $39-million contract on Dec. 3 — the first day of the Winter Meetings.

The deal was postponed, however, because a mid-December physical revealed that Napoli has avascular necrosis (AVN) in each of his hips. AVN is a disease that leads to bone death and degeneration. In spite of that intimidating diagnosis, Napoli said Tuesday that he hasn’t had to deal with any symptoms, and general manager Ben Cherington maintained he is confident in the first baseman’s health for 2013.

Napoli, 31, was unaware of the condition prior to his physical with the Red Sox. He does not know how or exactly when it originated, but it was not present in his physical last March before the 2012 season.

“We caught it at an early stage,” Napoli said. “I have no symptoms of it. We really don’t know what causes it. We saw a bunch of doctors, got a bunch of opinions and went from there. I got on medication. There’s no reason I shouldn’t be healthy and ready to go for Opening Day.”

“We don’t have a lot of concern about 2013,” Cherington said. “There’s no reason that Mike Napoli won’t be our primary first baseman in 2013. That’s what we’re counting on. There’s no reason that won’t happen starting Opening Day.”

AVN is the same condition that led to the end of Bo Jackson’s career in professional sports. Cherington deflected that comparison.

“We’re a long way ahead from Bo Jackson,” he said. “Bo Jackson’s circumstances were entirely different, from what we understand. From all the information we have, there’s a very good prognosis.”

Napoli has been taking medication this offseason, and he has consulted Dr. Joseph Lane at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.

Still, the potential severity of AVN explains the seven-week gap between the first agreement and the official word and why the Red Sox were so resistant to the original three-year agreement.

The sides eventually came to terms on a one-year deal with a base salary of $5 million. Incentives can bring the value of the contract up to $13 million. WEEI.com reported Tuesday that the incentives were tied to Napoli’s number of plate appearances and days spent on the active roster in 2013.

Even after the physical, both sides stayed in contact. When other teams began to express interest in Napoli, he decided to stick with the Red Sox.

“The Red Sox continued to keep the door open, and Mike in turn made a decision that he wanted to remain with the Red Sox even though he was a free agent,” said Brian Grieper, Napoli’s agent. “There certainly were possibilities and attractive opportunities out there. We certainly did seek those opportunities as they came to us, but at the end of the day Mike made a decision that he wanted to be with the Boston Red Sox and be their first baseman.”

This does represent a position switch for Napoli, who has spent the large majority of his career behind the plate. He expects that the transition will not be a difficult one, and that it should help his body.

“I definitely feel comfortable over there. I feel like the more reps I get over there, the better I can be,” said Napoli. “It’s definitely going to be a lot easier on my body, being at first base — physically and mentally. I’m confident I can stay healthy all year just being at first base.”

The Red Sox initially targeted Napoli as a hitter that can comfortably reside in the middle of their order. A slugger with a keen eye, Napoli saw 4.41 pitches per plate appearance a season ago — third in the majors. Although he hit .227, he still posted a .343 on-base percentage — which would have been good enough for third on the 2012 Red Sox — and 24 home runs.

“Mike is a hitter who has always done a lot of things that we value,” Cherington said. “He sees pitches, he gets on base, hits for power, he’s got a great swing for Fenway Park, a great history of performance at Fenway Park. He’s also known as a terrific teammate.”

Right-handed reliever Chris Carpenter, 27, was designated for assignment to make room for Napoli on the 40-man roster. He came to the Red Sox from the Cubs in compensation for the signing of Theo Epstein.